Bag-feeding machine



May 8, 19 28.

A. c. COTY ET AL BAG FEEDING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 5 1926uni 77 0405 [AIM [arr May s, 1928. 1,668,761

A. c. COTY ET AL BAG FEEDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 50, 1926 w 6Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS v 1157:: (kzmr (a t 77/044115 fmz (arr BAGFEEDING MACHINE Filed 1926 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS liar/n60 Uzi/vinoFor) 77/JMAS [ARL Carv BY 97L0,( wt/1.)

ATT RN and May 8, 1928. 1,668,761 A. C. COTY ET AL BAG FEEDING MACHINEFile Dec- 1926 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS 4 G} and ALF/PIP C'zzmnvr CarrY Eva/" 5 hm. 6077 B I flg a 97; 0%

ATTOR Y May 8, 1928. 1,668,761

A. c. COTY ET AL BAG FEEDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 192 s sheets-sheet 5INVENTORS 41/62? QEME/VT Cory 77/a /15 59 74 CaTv BY v f %412ANU1 ZIZ WIf ATT RN A. C. COTY ET AL BAG FEEDING MACHINE May 8, 1928.

e Sheets-Shet 6 Filed Dec. 50 192 INVENTORS 44mm uMmrCarr fire/ms [ARLarr and Patented May 8, 1928.

UNITED STATES 1,668,761 PATENT OFFIQE.

ALFRED CLEMENT COTY AND THOMAS EARL COTY, OF WATEBTOWN, NEW YORK.

BAG-FEEDING MACHINE.

This invention is an inprovement in bag feeding machines, and moreparticularly in machines for feedingbag blanks of tubular shape.

Bags of this character are made b turn end and sometimes both ends ofthe tube areclosed, by forming folds in the said end or ends, the foldsbeing secured together. Thus two or three separate handlings of the bagblanks are required, that is the blanks must be fed two or three times,and in each feedin exact alinement is desirable.

in feeding to the mechanism for folding the end or ends of the blank, itis essential that the tube be opened to facilitate the formation of thefolds, and to enable this operation to be more easily performed and tofacilitate the handling of the bag in the folding of the end or ends,the blanks are provided. at one end and on one wall with a tab, theother end of the wall having a thumb cnt, provided by the formation ofthe tab in a succeeding blank.

It is obvious that the feeding, whether for printing or end foldingrequires a high degree of accuracy. The bag blanks must be correctly.alined, and with the folding ma chineea'ch must be delivered in exactrela-; tion to the bottomer or mechanism which" folds the end. Otherwiseuniform bags cannot result.

. above mentioned'in an accurate-manner, and

-. with each blank positioned when delivered to the operating machineprecisely the same position as the preceding blank.

Another object is the provision of asimple, inexpensive and easilyoperated machine, wherein all the several operations are carried outa1.1to matic.;ily.

\Vith these and other objects in view the invention consists in theconstruction and novel combination of parts fully described hereinafter,illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claimsappendedjhereto, it being understood that various changes in the form,proportion, size and minor details of construction within the scope ofthe claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

In the drawings forming a part hereof Fig. 1 is a side elevation of theimproved machine.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view with parts broken away.

Fig. 3 is an end view looking toward the left of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view at the lower end of the magazine,showing the manner of opening the tubular blank.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of one end of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a detail of the movable blank end supporting mechanism withthe parts in one position. v

Fig. 7 is a detail in side elevation showing the pressing fingers andthe blank withdrawing mechanism.

Fig. 8 is a detail in side elevation of the blank alining mechanism.

Fig. 9 is a section on the line Fig. 8.

Figure 10 is an enlarged detail showing more clearly the relation of theresilient strips 12 and the opener blade 44 hereinafter described.

The bag blanks 1 as previously mentioned, usually have at one end a tab2, and at the other end a thumb cut or notch 3, the said tab and thumbout being in one wall of the blank, and thethumb cut of each blankresulting from the formation of the tabin v 99 of a preceding blank.These elements, namefacilitates the separation of the blanks, and.

the thumb out the separation of the walls of the blanks.

In the present embodiment of the invention, a number of the tubularblanks in simi- .lar superimposed relation are placed in a magazine,composed of a bottom 4, at least one side wall 5, and sto s 6 at oneend,

against which the ends 0 the blanks abut. The magazine as shown in Fig.1 inclines downwardly toward the stops 6, and the blanks are arrangedwith the wall having the tab ahd thumb cut upward, and with the tabs atthe forward ends, that is adjacent the stops 6.

The stops 6 are carried by a rod 7 arranged transversely of a suitablesupporting frame 8 for the machine, and held in bearings 9 in the frame.The stops are arranged in spaced relation as shown in Fig. 3, each nearone side of the magazine, and each stop has a split bearing 10 engagingthe rod 7, and secured thereon by a set screw 11. The stops 6 as shownmore particularly in Fig. 3, extend well below the rod 7, and below thebottom of the magazine, and each has secured to the lower end thereof astrip 12 of flexible material for a purpose to be presently described.

Referring to Fig. 1, it will be noticed that the bottom 4 extends only alittle beyond the median line of the blanks when m the magazine, so thata little more than one third of the lowermost blank is unsupported b thebottom at the end adjacent the stops. 1: each of the forward corners,the pile of blanks is supported by an angle plate 13 secured-to a rod 14adj ustably held on a shaft 15 mounted at the appropriate side of themagazine and extending parallel with the long axes of the blanks. Ahearing block 16 connects each rod to the shaft, the block having splitbearings for engaging the rod and the shaft respectively, thereby toadjustably connect the block to both rod and shaft.

Each shaft 15 is held in a sleeve bearing 17 on the frame, and eachshaft carries a roller 18 engaging a cam plate 19 secured to a verticalshaft-20 journaled in the frame, and operated in a manner to bepresently described. The arrangement of the cam is such that when theshaft 20 is oscillated in one direction, the plates 13 are swungdownwardly and outwardly into inoperative or nonsupporting position,while when the shaft is oscillated in the opposite direction the platesare swung upwardly and inwardly into operative or supporting position.

The shaft is oscillated by'means of a cam 21 on a shaft 22 journaledtransversely of the frame, the shaft 20 having an eccentrically carriedroller 23 engaging a face roove in the cam. As shown, the roller 23 1sadjustably connected to the shaft 20 by means of a split bearing 24. Acoil spring 25 normally acts on the shaft 15 to swing the plates 13 intoinoperative position, and to hold the. roller 18 in close engagementwith the cam 19.

Each cam 19 carries a separating and supporting finger 26 (Figure 5).The cam has a depending bearing 27 in which the finger 26 is held, andit will be noticed referring to Fig. 5 that the finger is roughly Tshaped, the shank of the T engaging the bearing 27. One end 28 of thecross arm of the T, namely that end adjacent the bags is short andconical, to readily enterbetween the lower: most bag and those above,while the other end 29 of the cross arm is of considerable length, toprovide an eflicient support for the superincumbent bags, when thefinger is in operative position. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the shankof the finger is adjustably held by the cam.

Between the plates 13 the forward ends of the bags are supported at the,center at certain intervals by means of a plate or blade 30. The bladeis secured to a bracket 35 having a split bearing engaging a shaft 33,and clamped thereon as shown. The blade has an oscillating movementimparted thereto by the mechanism shown in Fig. 1. This mechanismincludes a gear segment 38 journaled at 39 on the frame, and engaging amutiliated pinion 40 on the shaft The segment 38 carries a frictionroller 41, engaging within a face groove in a cam wheel l2 secured to ashaft 43, journaled transversely of the frame.

The cam groove isso contoured that once during each complete rotation ofthe shaft 43 the segment will be rocked to oscillate the shaft 33. Whenthe shaft is oscillated in one direction, the plate is swung upwardlyinto engagement with the tab of the lowermost bag blank, and supportsthe npper wall of said blank and the blanks above, leaving the lowerwall free so that the opener blade to be described can easily enterbetween the walls.

Resilient fingers 30" are provided for forcing several of the tubularblanks down upon the blade 30 at each side then-of. That is thesefingers engage between one or more of the lower blanks and those above,on each side of the blade 30 and make downward pressure, thus to bowtransversely the forward ends of the lower blank or blanks. Since thelower wall of the lowermost blank is free, it moves away from the upperwall and blade 30, forming a pocket into which the opener blade to bedescribed may enter.

The fingers 30" are adjustably held in split bearings 34 by set screws36. The bearings are clamped on a' short shaft 31,-heldin the bracket32. This shaft has a radial arm 37 provided with an angular cam slot,engaged by a roller 38 on a fixed arm 39depending from the rod 7. Thefingers 30 are of 1aminated structure, and are resilient, built up likea cantilever spring. When the shaft 33 is oscillated as above described,the fingers 30 are first moved between several of the lowermost blanksand those above, and afterwards downwardly, thus to bow the blank overthe blade 30 and to provide the pocket. between the lower tubular blankwalls as above described.

lVhile the forward end of the lowermost blank is manipulated as justdescribed, an

ion

49 journaled on the shaft 43, and held'stationary by an arm 50 securedto a shaft 51, journaled in the frame, parallel with the shaft 48 andbelow and behind the same.

The outer wall of the cam groove is lacking over about 90, so that at aselected point in the rotation of the cam the roller is free to moveaway from the shaft 43. A coil spring 53 is arranged between the arm andthe collar 47, the spring acting to hold the roller in engagement withthe lnner wall of the groove. The cam is adj ustably connected with thearm 50 by the slot and set screw 52 shown in Fig. 1. v

The blade 44 is resilient and may-deflect under pressure to preventinjury to the upper wall of the bag blank as it moves between the walls.The cam 49 allows the arm to swing downwardly from the position of Fig.1 under excess pressure thus to prevent injury to the parts, and thespring returns the arm to normal position as soon as the pressurerelaxes.

As the blade 44 moves into the blank between the walls thereof, the endof the blank is opened, the lower wall being drawn away from the upperwall which is en ported-by theblade 30. In order to limit tie openingmovement and to prevent kinking and bending of the blank, as well as toreduce frietion, a roller 54 is arranged transversely of the machinejust below the magazine, and just in front of the forward end of thebottom 4. As the forward end of the blank is drawn down in the mannershown in Fig. 6, the plates 13 are lowered and the blank is drawn downonto the roller 54.

The fingers 26 are moved into position between the lowermost blank andthose above when the plates 13 are lowered, and the uppermost blanks aresupported clear of the lowermost. l A pair of segments 55 is secured tothe shaft 43, and the segments are arranged in rear of the arm 45, toengage above the lowermost blank as it is bent. around the roller 54. Asthe segments move onward, the periphery of the curved surfaces thereofcooperate with the roller 54 as feed rollers to move the blankrearwardly and to deliver it to a pair of rollers 56 and 57 journaled onshafts 58 and 59 in the frame.

In order to attain accurate delivery the blanks are alined laterally andlongitudinally. The lateral alinement is attained by U shaped guides 60adjustably secured to rods 61 extending inwardly from the sides of theframe. The guides are adjustable on the rods toward and from each other,and the side edges'ofthe blanks move in'the guides. Longitudinaladjustment is attained by a pair of arms 62 secured to a shaft 63journaled in one end of-the cross-head 64 on the shaft 58. A spring 65is arranged'between an arm 66 on the shaft and the cross-head, the saidspring acting to hbld a friction roller 67 on the shaft 36 against a cam68 on the shaft 58.

The roller 67 is on a radial extending arm 69, and the cam is contouredto swing the free ends of the arms toward the segments 55 just beforethe arms attain the position of ig. 8. The free ends of the arms aregrooved transversely as shown at 69 on the faces adjacent to thesegments, the bottoms of the grooves being in alinement with thecontacting surfaces of the rollers 56 and 57. These arms engage theforward end of the blank, and move it slightly if necessary, to attainlongitudinal alinement. From the rollers 56 and 57 the forms aredelivered to the rolls 70-71, of the machine which performs the nextoperation.

During the passage of the blanks from between the roller 54 and thesegments 55, they are supported by a table or plate 72. This plate issupported at its front end by an arm 73 secured to the fixed shaft 51before mentioned and at its rear end by a standard 74 on the frame. Theimproved feeding machine may be driven in any suitable manner, as forinstance by the machine to which with a gear 80 on the shaft 43. Thewheel 56 is driven by the wheel 57, and the .roller 54' is preferably.composed of several sections, as shown in Fig. 3. In order to thoroughlyloosen the lowermost. bag blank, break up air. adhesions between it andthe next above, a roller 81 is journaled in open bearings 82 just behindthe roller 54. This roller 81 has portions thereof hexagonal as shown inFig. 2.

To prevent the points of the segments 55 from engaging the tubularblanks at the end of the pile, the strips 12 of flexible materialpreviously mentioned are secured to the lower ends of the sto s 6 inregister with the segments. When t e segments swing into the position ofFig. 7, the flexible strips are swept in beneath the pile of the blanksas shown in Fig. 7, thus preventing any inedges at one side abutting theguide plate 5.

At this time the plates 13 are in the position of Figures 1 and 7, andthe fingers 26 are in the position of Figure 7, that is both beneath thelowermost blank of the pile. The arrangement of the magazine is suchthat while the bottom 4 supports the pile at one end, the other end issupported by the plates 13 and the fingers 26.

When the shaft 22 commences to rotate, the parts attain the position ofFig. 1, with the'blade 30 engaging beneath the tab of the lowermostblank. The fingers 30, Figure 2, come into engaging position between thelowermost blank, or between several of the lowermost blanks and thoseabove and are operatedto press down upon the blank or blanks,.thus toseparate the walls of the lowermost blank, since the lower'wall is atthis time unsupported between the plates 13. The blade 44 now enters thepocket, moving between the walls of the blank, and bendin down theblankin the manner ,shown in Figure 6. As the blade enters the blank, theplates 13 are moved into the inoperative position of Figure 4, as arealso the fin ers 26. a

The lade 30 is meanwhile passing on to the position of Figure 7, and theplates 13 and the fingers 26 are returned to the operative osition ofFigure 7. Soon thereafter the b ade 44 passes out of engagement with theblank, as shown in Figure 7, and the segments 47 engage the blank andcooperating with the roller 54 feed it to the rollers 56 and 57. Theresilient strips 12 have been swept in beneath theend of the pile by thesegment points, thus insuring that the said points will clear the pileof blanks. During its passage from the segments and roller 54 to therollers 70 and 71, the blank is supported by the table 72, and initstravel it is alined laterally between guide 60, and longitudinally bythe fingers 62, so that it enters between the rollers 70 and 71accurately positioned for operation by the machine of which the saidrollers form a part. After the blank is withdrawn over the rollers 54and 81, the latter roller thoroughly breaks up air adhes ons and thelike between the lowermost blank and those above, so that there is notendency to carry along another blank.

' The roller 54 is resiliently monnted,.and spring pressed toward thesegments. At its ends it is journaled in bearing blocks 85, which areslidable in guides 90 on the frame. A coil spring .91 is arranged inrear of each block, and the block and spring are engaged by tensionscrews 92 and 93 respectively threaded through the .frame. By-means ofthe screws, the position of the roller with respect to the segments, andthe tension of the spring may be adjusted. The machine is adjustable forbag blanks of difl'erent sizes.

tion, and is easily swung laterally at either 76 end. As the front endpasses from between the rollers 56 and 57 it engages the lateral guides60, Figs. 1 and 9, and if out of alinement the front end will be swung,the re mainder of the blank will follow, andthe blank will be fed inexact lateral alinement to the rollers 7071. The. guides flare somewhatat the entrance end to facilitate the entrance of the blank.

\Vhat is claimed as new is:

1. In a machine of the class described, a magazine constructed tosupport a pile-of tubular bag blanks in superposed relation with theunderside of one end of the lowermost blank free, a blade to engage andsupport the upper wall of the lowermost blank nearthe center of the saidend, and means to press said wall downwardly at each side of the blade,thereby to form a pocket to facilitate the entrance of openin means.

2. In a machine of the class escribed, a. magazine constructed tosupport a pile of tubular bag blanks in super )osed relation with theunderside of one ent of the lowermost blank free, a blade to engage andsupport the upper wall of the lowermost blank near the center of thesaid end, means to press said wall downwardly at each side of the blade,thereby to form a pocket to facilitate the entrance of opening means,and means entering the pocket for opening the end of the-blank andbending said end downwardly.

3. In a machine of the class described, a magazine constructed tosupport a pile of tubular bag blanks in superposed relation with theunderside of one end of the lowermost blank free, a blade to engage andsupport the upper wall of the lowermost blank near the center ofthe-said end, means to press said wall downwardly at each side of theblade, thereby to form a pocket to facilitate the entrance of openingmeans, means entering the pocket for opening the end of the blank andbending said end downwardly, and mechanism for engaging the said end'and withdrawing the blank from the magazine.

' 4. In a machine of the class described, a magazine constructed tosupport a pile of tubular bag blanks in superposed relation with theunderside of oneend of the lowermost blank free, a blade to engage andsupport the upper wall of the lowermost blank near the center of thesaid end, fingers topress said wall downwardly at each side of theblade, thereby to form a pocket to facilitate the entrance of openingmeans, means entering the pocket for opening the end of the blank andbendingsaid end downwardly, and mechanism including a resilientlysupported roller over which the blank is drawn for engaging the said endand withdrawing the blank from the magazine.

5. In a machine of the class described, a magazine constructed ,tosupport a pile of tubular bag blanks in superposed relation with theunderside of one end of the lower-. most blank free, a pluralit of meanscooperating to separate the we ls of the lowermost blank at the said endand to tem orarily support the upper wall, an opener lade mounted tomove into the said opened end and bend the end of the blank downwardly,means engaging the said end to withdraw the blank, and mechanism inconnection. with the magazine movable into and out of operative positionfor engaging beneath the pile at the said end and synchronized with theoperation of the bending and withdrawing means to move into inoperativeposition during the operation of the bending means. and into operativeosition during the op eration of the with rawing means.

6. Ina machine of the class described, a magazine constructed to supporta pile of tubular bag blanks in superposed relation with the undersideofone end of the lowermost blank rec, a pluralit of means co-- operatingto eparate the wa ls of the lowermost blank at the said end and totemporarily support the upper wall, an opener blade mounted to move intothe said 0 ned end and'bend the end of the blank dtiwnwardly, means enaging the said end to withdraw the blan mechanism in connection with themagazine movable into and out of operative position for engaging beneaththe pile at the said end and synchronized with the operation of thebending and withdrawing means to move into ino erative position duringthe operation 0 the bending means and into operative osition during theoperation of the with rawing means, and guides engaging the edges of theblank to al ne the same as it moves away from the magazine.

7. In a machine of the class described a magazine for a pile of tubularbag blanks, a pair of feed rollers, a-plurality of means cooperating'towithdraw the lowermost blank from the ile and deliver it to the feedrollers, and means moving in the opposite direction to the travel of theblank to' engage the front end thereof prior to its engagement by thefeed rollers to determine theposition thereof with respect to saidrollers.

8. In a machine of the class described, a to magazine havi me'ansto suport one end of a pile of tu ular bag blan in en posed relation, a bladeat theother an of the magazine movable into and out of position to suport the upper wall of the lowermost blan near the center of the saidend, fingers to engage said wall and ress it downwardly at each side ofthe bla e thereby to form a pocket, an opener to enterthe pocket and tobend the end of the blank downwardly, means engaging the said end towithdraw the blank, and means movable into and out of supportin ositionto engagethe said other end 0 t e pile during v the operation of thewithdrawin means.

9. In a machine of the class escribed, a

, magazine havin means to supgort one end of a pile of tu ular bag blain su rposed relation, a blade at the other en of the magazine movableinto and out of posi tion to support the upper wall of the lowermostblank near the center of the said end, fingers to engage said wall andpress it downwardly at each side of the blade thereby to form a pocket,an opener to enter the pocket and to bend the end of the blankdownwardly, means engaging the said end to withdraw the blank, and meansmovable into and out of'supportin sition to engage the said other end 0t e pile during the o eration of the withdrawing means, the with rawingmeans including a resilientl) supported roller over which the blank isdrawn. a

10. In a machine of the class described, a magazine having means tosupport one end of a pile of tubular bag blanks in an rposed relation, ablade at the other end oi the magazine movable into and out of positionto support the upper wall of the lower: most blank near the center ofthe said end, fingers to engage said wall and ress it downwardly at eachside of the bla e thereby to form a pocket, an opener to enter thepocket and to bend the end of the blank Qdownwardly, means engaging thesaid end to v Jwithdraw the blank, and means movable into position toengage and out of. supportin the said other end of t e pile durin the oeration of the withdrawing means, t e wit drawing means including aresilientl supported roller over which the blank is rawn, and wheelsegments cooperating with the roller to engage the edges of the blank.

11. In a machine of the class described, a magazine havin means to suport one end of a pile of tu ular bag blan s in superposed relation, ablade at the other end of the magazine movable into and out of positionto support the upper wall of the lowermost blank near the center of thesaid end, fingers to engage said wall and press it downwardly at eachside of the blade thereby to form a ocket, an opener to enter the pocketand nd the end of the blank downwardly,

means'engaging the said. end to withdraw position to engage the'saidother end of t e pile during the operation of the withdrawing means, thewithdrawing means includin a resiliently supported roller over whiclit eblank is drawn, and wheel segments cooperating with the roller to engagethe edges of the blank, the magazine having flexible strips at thecorners thereof depending below the blanks and positioned to be engagedby the segments for the purpose specified.

12. In a machine of the class described, a magazine including means tosupport one end of a pile of superposed bag blanks, and means movableinto and out of operative position to support the pile at the other end,a plurality of mechanisms at the said other end to withdraw thelowermost blank from the pile, and means for operating the said meansand the said mechanisms to cause the supporting means to release thelowermost blank during the early part of the withdrawal operation and'to engage and support the remaining blanks during the later part of theoperation, the withdrawing mechanism including an opener blade to pulldown the unsupported end of the lowermost blank, and a resilientlysupported roller and wheel segments cooperating therewith to withdrawthe blank.

13. In a machine for successively feeding from a pile the lowermost of aplurality of superposed similarly arranged tubular bag blanks eachprovided at one end with a tab on the upper wall thereof, a magazineincluding a fixed support for one end of the pile anda movable supportfor the other end,

down the end, mechanism to engage the said end to withdraw the blank,and means to operate the blade, the fingers, the movable support, theopener and the withdrawing means in proper order and relation.

14. In a machine for successively feeding from the bottom of a pile'ofsimilarly arranged tubular bag blanks each having the upper wall at oneend extended, a blade for engaging the extension of the *lowermostblank, fingers to depress the blank on each side of the'bla'de, anopener blade to enter between the walls and bend down the end of theblank, other means to engage said end and withdraw the blank, and meansto operate all of said mechanisms in the proper order.

15. In a machine of the class described, a magazine for holding a pileof tubular bag blanks, a pair of feed rollers, av plurality of'meanscooperating to withdraw the lowermost blank in the pile and deliver itto the feed rollers, and a plurality of means cooperatin to determinethe position of the blank with respect -to the feed rollers, said meansengaging the end and sides'respectively of the blank.

Signed at Watertown, in the county of Jefferson and .State of New York,this 12th day of August, A. D. 1926.

ALFRED CLEMENT COTY. THOMAS EARL COTY.

